George Washington Owes Library $300,000

Posted on Apr 18, 2010

The first president has accrued 220 years’ worth of late fees on two books he checked out from—and never returned to—a New York library. Washington borrowed “Law of Nations” and a collection of debate transcripts from the British Parliament. He is not expected to repay the debt.

BBC:

On 5 October 1789, the first president borrowed two books from what was then the only library in Manhattan - “Law of Nations,” a dissertation on international relations, and a volume of debate transcripts from Britain’s House of Commons.

George Washington did not even bother to sign his name in the borrower’s ledger. An aide simply scrawled “president” next to the title to show who had taken them out.